‘Real World’ deals with real problems

March 18, 2009|By MARLEE SHAULIS, Meyersdale

One of the most popular reality shows, The Real World, began its newest season in New York’s borough of Brooklyn. The Real World places seven strangers from around the United States together in one house and has them live and work together. With many different personalities in one house, tempers run high and feuds begin. The Real World Brooklyn adds another individual to the mix, bringing the number of residents in the house to eight. Not only is there an extra housemate added, but they are equally separated: four boys and four girls. Ryan, Chett, JD, Scott, Devyn, Baya, Katelyn, and Sara all have secrets waiting to come out.

Living with seven other strangers, the secrets reveal themselves in the most brutal and entertaining ways.

Ryan is the unattainable heartthrob of the house. All the girls desire him, but his heart belongs to his long time girlfriend back at home. Hidden behind his attractive and tough exterior are issues that many in the house can never understand. Ryan suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, after serving his country and witnessing his friend’s death. Although he has trouble coping with his all too common illness and the fear that he will be called back to active duty, Ryan finds comfort in making music, filming (recently taking up filming classes at the New York Film Academy), and pranking his housemates (mainly the girls).

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Chett is misunderstood because of his religious beliefs as a Mormon and his metro-sexual tendencies. Although he believes in staying pure till marriage, Chett is the guy found most frequently talking about sexual relations (which often adds a lot of humor to the show). Chett is also very interested in becoming a host for any MTV show. He spends most of his time on the show filming podcasts that are posted online.

JD is one of the most complicated males on the show. He arrives at the house with much baggage from his rough childhood of abandonment and abuse. These factors cause him to be one of the most aggressive and angry individuals on the show, starting many battles with his housemates. He enjoys spending his time volunteering at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, where he helps those who have suffered from abuse. Like them he is gay and understands that challenges each of them face.

The final male of the house is Scott. He is the quietest of the house, and spends most of his time in the gym working out, maintaining his title as having the “best abs on the west coast.” He often flirts with many girls, and also is accepting of anyone different.

Devyn is considered the “playa” of the house. At first she is attracted to Scott, but she soon learns that he is currently attached to someone in his hometown. After her letdown, she fades into the background until her flirtatious actions get her in trouble with her housemates. They discover she is stringing two men along from back home because of the gifts and money they provide her. They warn her that is she does not tell them the truth, then they will. She is left with a hard decision that will greatly affect everyone no matter what she chooses.

Baya is the most athletic female in the house. She has spent her entire life dancing, and she believes that New York is the best place to start her career in performing. She joins many freestyle classes where she is inspired to dance with her heart and not her feet. Baya is using her time in Brooklyn to make her future dreams come true.

The most unique individual of the house is Katelyn. She is fearful of being rejected by her housemates because of being transgender. She is scared that note of them will understand her decision and lifestyle, but she is surprised to discover that all her roommates are open minded about her situation. Katelyn is spending her time in New York discovering herself as a new female.

Sara concludes the list of the eight strangers of the Brooklyn house. Like JD, she suffered abuse as a child. She was raped in preschool by her teacher and later sexually abused by her own father. After spending her childhood living with her father’s abuse, Sara cut off all communication with him. Sadly, he always finds some way of getting in contact with her, which brings back all her depressing memories of the past. Because she is still learning to cope with abuse, Sara often lashes out at her roommates with numerous hurtful comments.

Although many people in America believe reality shows are fake, I find The Real World to be entertaining and realistic. It deals with many problems that teens or young adults cope with in their everyday life. I believe people who watch this show gain a perspective and learn to accept people that are different. I anticipate every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. to view my favorite show on television. Along with the real life situations the show deals with, the guys on The Real World, such as Ryan and Scott, are what I consider to be “eye candy.”